Mandatum’s real estate company supports neighborhood fence art project in Espoo, Finland

The real estate company Mandatum Life Vuokratontit II Oy, which is managed by Sampo plc’s Real Estate Investment unit, owns an unbuilt plot in the middle of the new neighborhood Suurpelto in Espoo, Finland. The active community association Suurpelto-seura wanted to make the surroundings more appealing and asked the real estate company to participate. Initially, the fence was set up for protection and the fence art project started to take shape in 2020 when Suurpelto-seura and representatives from Espoo School of Arts and the City of Espoo started developing the idea and the theme.

In Sampo Group’s real estate investments, improving the urban environment and strengthening the local community are perceived valuable. In addition to building the fence, Mandatum Life Vuokratontit II Oy contributed to the costs of the supplies.

Painting the fence was a community project, which engaged people of different ages and nationalities in the neighborhood. Especially local kindergartens and schools were invited to participate, and adults volunteered through a series of community workshops. The theme for the project was a clean Baltic Sea. One part of the fence is a gallery of images related to the Baltic Sea, the Lukupuro brook, animals and seafaring created by kindergarteners and school children. In their art works the children depicted the impacts of environmental problems on marine life. The part of the fence facing the square was designed by students from Espoo School of Arts. Over 100 children and 40 adults took part in the project.

The project had to be put on hold a few times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the fence art project was finally completed in 2021 and celebrated by the community on World Oceans Day on 8 June 2021. The fence is now brightening the main thoroughfare in Suurpelto and brings joy to inhabitants and passers-by.

Mandatum Life Vuokratontit II Oy is Mandatum’s wholly owned subsidiary. Sampo plc’s Real Estate Investment unit is responsible for If, Mandatum, and Sampo plc’s real estate investments. Most of these investments are in Mandatum’s portfolio. In addition to the wholly owned subsidiaries’ real estate investments, Sampo plc’s Real Estate Investment unit is responsible for Mandatum Life Vuokratontit I Ky, SaKa Hallikiinteistöt Ky, and Kaleva Mutual Insurance Company’s real estate investments.